Cooling apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus including a non-freezing apparatus which can be installed in a refrigerating chamber or a refrigerating chamber door and stably store food in a non-frozen state. A cooling apparatus includes a freezing chamber, a refrigerating chamber, a freezing chamber door, a refrigerating chamber door, and a non-freezing apparatus installed in the refrigerating chamber or the refrigerating chamber door and storing food in a non-frozen state. In the non-freezing apparatus, since a lower space is cooled by the cool air introduced from the freezing chamber and an upper space is cooled by the atmosphere of the refrigerating chamber, it is possible to reduce a heating value of a heater which is operated to maintain the temperature of the upper space to be higher than that of the lower space.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus including anon-freezing apparatus, and, more particularly to, a cooling apparatusincluding a non-freezing apparatus which can be provided in a coolingapparatus such as a general refrigerator without significantly modifyingthe construction of the cooling apparatus and which can store food andbeverages in a non-frozen state and easily make slush particularly inthe beverages.

BACKGROUND ART

Supercooling means the phenomenon that a molten object or a solid is notchanged although it is cooled to a temperature below the phasetransition temperature in an equilibrium state. A material has a stablestate at every temperature. If the temperature is slowly changed, theconstituent elements of the material can follow the temperature changes,maintaining the stable state at each temperature. However, if thetemperature is suddenly changed, since the constituent elements cannotbe changed to the stable state at each temperature, the constituentelements maintain a stable state of the initial temperature, or some ofthe constituent elements fail to be changed to a state of the finaltemperature.

For example, when water is slowly cooled, it is not temporarily frozenat a temperature below 0° C. However, when water enters a supercooledstate, it has a kind of quasi-stable state. As this unstable equilibriumstate is easily broken even by slight stimulation, water tends to moveto a more stable state. That is, if a small piece of material is putinto the supercooled liquid, or if the liquid is suddenly shaken, theliquid starts to be frozen at once such that its temperature reaches thefreezing point, and maintains a stable equilibrium state at thistemperature.

In general, an electrostatic atmosphere is made in a refrigerator andmeat and fish are thawed in the refrigerator at a minus temperature. Inaddition to the meat and fish, fruit is kept fresh in the refrigerator.

This technology uses a supercooling phenomenon. The supercoolingphenomenon indicates the phenomenon that a molten object or a solid isnot changed although it is cooled to a temperature below the phasetransition temperature in an equilibrium state.

This technology includes Korean Patent Publication No. 2000-0011081titled “Electrostatic field processing method, electrostatic fieldprocessing apparatus, and electrodes therefor”.

FIG. 1 is a view of an example of a conventional thawing andfreshness-keeping apparatus. A keeping-cool room 1 is composed of athermal insulator 2 and an outer wall 5. A mechanism (not shown)controlling a temperature inside the room 1 is installed therein. Ametal shelf 7 installed in the room 1 has a two-layer structure. Targetobjects to be thawed or freshness-kept and ripened such as vegetables,meat and marine products are loaded on the respective layers. The metalshelf 7 is insulated from the bottom of the room 1 by an insulator 9. Inaddition, since a high voltage generator 3 can generate 0 to 5000 V ofDC and AC voltages, an insulation plate 2 a such as vinyl chloride, etc.is covered on the inside of the thermal insulator 2. A high-voltagecable 4 outputting the voltage of the high voltage generator 3 isconnected to the metal shelf 7 after passing through the outer wall 5and the thermal insulator 2.

When a user opens a door installed at the front of the keeping-cool room1, a safety switch 13 (see FIG. 2) is turned off to intercept the outputof the high voltage generator 3.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration view of the high voltage generator 3.100 V of AC is supplied to a primary side of a voltage regulationtransformer 15. Reference numeral 11 represents a power lamp and 19 aworking state lamp. When the door 6 is closed and the safety switch 13is on, a relay 14 is operated. This state is displayed by a relayoperation lamp 12. Relay contact points 14 a, 14 b and 14 c are closedby the operation of the relay 14, and 100 V of AC is applied to theprimary side of the voltage regulation transformer 15.

The applied voltage is regulated by a regulation knob 15 a on asecondary side of the voltage regulation transformer 15, and theregulated voltage value is displayed on a voltmeter. The regulation knob15 a is connected to a primary side of a boosting transformer 17 on thesecondary side of the voltage regulation transformer 15. The boostingtransformer 17 boosts the voltage at a ratio of 1:50. For example, when60 V of voltage is applied, it is boosted to 3000 V.

One end O₁ of the output of the secondary side of the boostingtransformer 17 is connected to the metal shelf 7 insulated from thekeeping-cool room 1 through the high-voltage cable 4, and the other endO₂ of the output is grounded. Moreover, since the outer wall 5 isgrounded, if the user touches the outer wall 5 of the keeping-cool room1, he/she does not get an electric shock. Further, in FIG. 1, when themetal shelf 7 is exposed in the room 1, it should be maintained in aninsulated state in the room 1. Thus, the metal shelf 7 needs to beseparated from the wall of the room 1 (the air performs an insulationfunction). Furthermore, if a target object 8 is protruded from the metalshelf 7 and brought into contact with the wall of the room 1, thecurrent flows to the ground through the wall of the room 1. Therefore,the insulation plate 2 a is attached to the inner wall to prevent dropof the applied voltage. Still furthermore, when the metal shelf 7 iscovered with vinyl chloride without being exposed in the room 1, anelectric field atmosphere is produced in the entire room 1. In the priorart, an electric field or a magnetic field is applied to the receivedobject to be cooled, such that the received object enters a supercooledstate. Accordingly, a complicated apparatus for producing the electricfield or the magnetic field should be provided to keep the receivedobject in the supercooled state, and the power consumption is increasedduring the production of the electric field or the magnetic field.Additionally, the apparatus for producing the electric field or themagnetic field should further include a safety device (e.g., an electricor magnetic field shielding structure, an interception device, etc.) forprotecting the user from high power, when producing or intercepting theelectric field or the magnetic field.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-4260 discloses a supercoolingcontrol refrigerator which includes a temperature detection means and acontrol means controlling the temperature at a given set temperature inan openable/closable thermal insulation unit and which keeps the goodscold at a temperature below the freezing point during the supercoolingoperation. However, since the refrigerator controls the rotation numberof a cool air circulation fan to adjust the temperature in the thermalinsulation unit, if the temperature in the unit is reduced to atemperature below the set temperature, there is no means for raising thetemperature to the set temperature within a short time. When thetemperature in the unit is maintained at a temperature below the settemperature for a predetermined time, the goods intended to be stored ina supercooled state are frozen. In addition, the frozen goods cannot bethawed and stored again in the supercooled state. The refrigerator haslow stability in maintaining a non-frozen state.

Korean Patent Registration No. 10-850062 describes a refrigerator havinga space for receiving food and a storing room for cooling the space, therefrigerator including a cool air flowing space directly cooling thefood receiving space and a thermal insulation layer insulating the coolair flowing space from the space, and storing the food in a supercooledstate. However, if the temperature in the refrigerator is reduced to atemperature below a set temperature, there is no construction forraising the temperature. Therefore, the refrigerator also has lowstability in maintaining a non-frozen state.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-267646 discloses a refrigeratorwith a supercooling room which includes a freezing chamber with atemperature control means therein to continuously adjust the temperaturebetween 0° C. and a temperature of a freezing temperature zone bystages, the supercooling room disposed in the freezing chamber andreceiving the cool air from the freezing chamber, and a controlapparatus controlling the freezing chamber so that the food stored inthe supercooling room can be maintained in a supercooled state at atemperature below the freezing point without being frozen. Thetemperature of the freezing chamber or a switching chamber in which thesupercooling room is installed is controlled to adjust the temperatureof the supercooling room. The supercooling room is sealed with respectto the freezing chamber or the switching chamber such that a temperaturechange in the supercooling room is limited. However, when the food isstored in the supercooled state by slowing down the temperature changein the supercooling room by indirect cooling, it takes a long time forthe food to reach the supercooled state. Moreover, if the temperature inthe refrigerator is reduced to a temperature below a set temperature,there is no construction for raising the temperature. Accordingly, therefrigerator also has low stability in maintaining a non-frozen state.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

An object of the present invention is to provide a cooling apparatusincluding a non-freezing apparatus which can be installed in arefrigerating chamber or a refrigerating chamber door and stably storefood in a non-frozen state.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coolingapparatus which has a passage for introducing the cool air from afreezing chamber into a non-freezing apparatus, so that a non-freezingapparatus located in a refrigerating chamber can store food in asupercooled state.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a coolingapparatus including a non-freezing apparatus which can stably adjust thetemperature inside the non-freezing apparatus by selectively introducingthe cool air from a freezing chamber using a damper.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a coolingapparatus including a non-freezing apparatus which can independentlycontrol the temperature of upper and lower portions of the non-freezingapparatus to maintain the temperature of the upper space in which thefreezing starts to be higher, thereby stably maintaining food in anon-frozen state.

Technical Solution

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided acooling apparatus, including: a freezing chamber; a refrigeratingchamber; a freezing chamber door; a refrigerating chamber door; abulkhead separating the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber;a non-freezing apparatus installed in the freezing chamber or thefreezing chamber door and storing food in a non-frozen state; and asupplementary non-freezing apparatus installed in the refrigeratingchamber or the refrigerating chamber door and storing food in anon-frozen state. In addition, the non-freezing apparatus is spacedapart from the refrigerating chamber or the refrigerating chamber doorby a given gap.

Moreover, the non-freezing apparatus is detachably installed in therefrigerating chamber or the refrigerating chamber door.

Further, the cooling apparatus further includes a passage forintroducing the cool air from the freezing chamber into the non-freezingapparatus.

Furthermore, the cooling apparatus further includes a bulkheadseparating the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber, and anopening portion formed in the bulkhead to introduce the cool air fromthe freezing chamber into the non-freezing apparatus.

Still furthermore, the cooling apparatus further includes a coolingpassage guide duct connected to the opening portion and guiding the coolair to the non-freezing apparatus.

Still furthermore, the non-freezing apparatus includes a control unitcontrolling an upper space and a lower space at different temperatures,respectively.

Still furthermore, the non-freezing apparatus includes a dampercontrolling the cool air introduced into the non-freezing apparatus.

Still furthermore, the cooling apparatus further includes a coolingpassage guide duct guiding the cool air from the freezing chamber to thedamper.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda cooling apparatus, including: a freezing chamber; a refrigeratingchamber; a bulkhead separating the freezing chamber and therefrigerating chamber; a freezing chamber door; a refrigerating chamberdoor; and a non-freezing apparatus installed in the refrigeratingchamber or the refrigerating chamber door and storing food in anon-frozen state.

In addition, the cooling apparatus includes a cooling passage passingthrough the bulkhead and introducing the cool air from the freezingchamber into the non-freezing apparatus.

Moreover, an upper space and a lower space of the non-freezing apparatusare controlled at different temperatures, respectively.

Further, the cooling passage is connected to the lower space.

Furthermore, the non-freezing apparatus includes a separation filmpreventing the cool air introduced from the freezing chamber fromflowing into the upper space. Still furthermore, the non-freezingapparatus includes a discharge hole for discharging the flow from thenon-freezing apparatus to the refrigerating chamber. Still furthermore,the non-freezing apparatus includes a flow fan producing a forcibleflow.

Still furthermore, the cooling apparatus further includes a dampercontrolling the inflow of the cool air from the cooling passage to thenon-freezing apparatus. Still furthermore, the damper is installed at alower portion of the non-freezing apparatus.

Still furthermore, the damper is installed on the bulkhead.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a cooling apparatus, including: a freezing chamber; arefrigerating chamber; a freezing chamber door; a refrigerating chamberdoor; a bulkhead separating the freezing chamber and the refrigeratingchamber; a non-freezing apparatus installed in the refrigerating chamberor the refrigerating chamber door and storing food in a non-frozenstate; and a damper controlling the inflow of the cool air from thefreezing chamber to the non-freezing apparatus.

In addition, the non-freezing apparatus includes an upper space and alower space controlled at different temperatures, respectively, and alower space located at the rear of the upper space and the lower space,and the damper is installed in the rear space.

Advantageous Effects

According to the cooling apparatus provided by the present invention,since the non-freezing apparatus is detachably mounted in therefrigerating chamber or the refrigerating chamber door withoutsignificantly modifying the construction of the general coolingapparatus, the food can be stably stored in the non-frozen state in thenon-freezing apparatus.

According to the non-freezing apparatus provided by the presentinvention, since the lower space is cooled by the cool air introducedfrom the freezing chamber and the upper space is cooled by theatmosphere of the refrigerating chamber, it is possible to reduce aheating value of a heater which is operated to maintain the temperatureof the upper space to be higher than that of the lower space.

The non-freezing apparatus of the cooling apparatus provided by thepresent invention includes the separation film formed between the upperspace having a high temperature and the lower space having a lowtemperature to limit the heat exchange between the upper space and thelower space, thereby stably maintaining a liquid in the supercooledstate.

The non-freezing apparatus of the cooling apparatus provided by thepresent invention includes the flow fan producing the forcible flow, sothat a liquid contained in a container can have the utmost uniformtemperature distribution.

The non-freezing apparatus of the cooling apparatus provided by thepresent invention is detachable from the cooling apparatus. If thenon-freezing apparatus is not used, the corresponding cooling space canbe used as a general refrigerating or freezing storage space.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of an example of a conventional thawing andfreshness-keeping apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration view of a high voltage generator.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a supercooling process applied to a slushmaking container, a non-freezing apparatus and a cooling apparatusaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a process of preventing the ice crystal nucleusformation, which is applied to the non-freezing apparatus according tothe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state where a non-freezing apparatus providedin a cooling apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is mounted in a freezing chamber.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state where the non-freezing apparatusprovided in the cooling apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention is mounted in a refrigerating chamber.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a state where the non-freezing apparatusprovided in the cooling apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention is mounted in a freezing chamber door.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a state where the non-freezing apparatusprovided in the cooling apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention is mounted in a refrigerating chamber door.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are exploded perspective views of the non-freezingapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 11 to 13 are views of a damper provided in the non-freezingapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a view of a rear space of the non-freezing apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the non-freezing apparatus according tothe embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a view of the rear of the non-freezing apparatus according tothe embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are schematic views showing the heat transfercomparison, when the non-freezing apparatus is closely attached to thecooling apparatus and when the non-freezing apparatus is spaced apartfrom the cooling apparatus by a given gap.

FIG. 19 is a graph showing changes in the internal temperature versusthe time, when the non-freezing apparatus is closely attached to thecooling apparatus and when the non-freezing apparatus is spaced apartfrom the cooling apparatus by a given gap.

MODE FOR INVENTION

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a supercooling process applied to anon-freezing apparatus and a cooling apparatus according to the presentinvention. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a container C containing a liquid Lis cooled in a cooling space S.

For example, it is assumed that a cooling temperature of the coolingspace S is lowered from a room temperature to a temperature below 0° C.(the phase transition temperature of water) or a temperature below thephase transition temperature of the liquid L. While the cooling iscarried out, it is intended to maintain the water or the liquid L in asupercooled state at a temperature below the maximum ice crystalformation zone (about −1° C. to −5° C.) of the water in which theformation of ice crystals is maximized, or at a cooling temperaturebelow the maximum ice crystal formation zone of the liquid L.

The liquid L is evaporated during the cooling such that vapor isintroduced into a gas Lg (or a space) in the container C. In a casewhere the container C is closed by a cover Ck, the gas Lg may besupersaturated due to the evaporated vapor. In this description, thecontainer C may selectively include the cover Ck. If the container Cincludes the cover Ck, it can prevent, to some extent, the cool air frombeing introduced directly from the cooling space or from reducing thetemperature of the surface of the liquid L or the temperature of the gasLg thereon.

When the cooling temperature reaches or exceeds a temperature of themaximum ice crystal formation zone of the liquid L, the vapor in the gasLg or the water drops on the inner wall of the container C may befrozen. Alternatively, the condensation occurs in a contact portion ofthe surface Ls of the liquid L and the inner wall of the container C(almost the same as the cooling temperature of the cooling space S) suchthat the condensed liquid L may form ice crystal nucleuses which are icecrystals.

For example, when the ice crystal nucleuses in the gas Lg are loweredand infiltrated into the liquid L through the surface Ls of the liquidL, the liquid L is released from the supercooled state and caused to befrozen. That is, the supercooling of the liquid L is released.

Alternatively, as the ice crystal nucleuses are brought into contactwith the surface Ls of the liquid L, the liquid L may be released fromthe supercooled state and caused to be frozen.

Therefore, the non-freezing apparatus of the present invention appliesor supplies energy (e.g., thermal energy) to the container C received inthe cooling space S and the liquid L to control the temperature of thegas Lg and the liquid L, so that the liquid L can be maintained in anon-frozen state, i.e., a supercooled state below its phase transitiontemperature. Here, the gas Lg is located at a top layer portion of theliquid L in contact therewith. In this description, it is defined as aliquid top layer portion (or received object top layer portion). Theliquid top layer portion may be an oil layer which can float in theliquid L or an object which contains plastic or other resin, in additionto the liquid Lg. In this embodiment, for convenience, the liquid L isdescribed as an example. However, the present invention can be appliedto general received objects such as meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, etc.

The maintenance of the supercooled state using the temperature controlwill be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a process of preventing the ice crystal nucleusformation, which is applied to the non-freezing apparatus according tothe present invention. In FIG. 4, to prevent the freezing of the vaporW1 in the gas Lg, i.e., to continuously maintain the vapor W1 state, theenergy is applied to at least the gas Lg or the surface Ls of the liquidL so that the temperature of the gas Lg or the surface Ls of the liquidL can be higher than a temperature of the maximum ice crystal formationzone of the liquid L, more preferably, the phase transition temperatureof the liquid L. In addition, to prevent the freezing although thesurface Ls of the liquid L is brought into contact with the inner wallof the container C, the temperature of the surface Ls of the liquid L ismaintained higher than a temperature of the maximum ice crystalformation zone of the liquid L, more preferably, the phase transitiontemperature of the liquid L.

Accordingly, the liquid L in the container C maintains the supercooledstate at a temperature below its phase transition temperature or atemperature below its maximum ice crystal formation zone.

Moreover, when the cooling temperature in the cooling space S is aconsiderably low temperature, e.g., −20° C., although the energy isapplied to an upper portion of the container C, the liquid L which isthe received object may not be able to maintain the supercooled state.There is a need that the energy should be applied to a lower portion ofthe container C to some extent. When the energy applied to the upperportion of the container C is relatively larger than the energy appliedto the lower portion of the container C, the temperature of the upperportion of the container C can be maintained higher than the phasetransition temperature or a temperature of the maximum ice crystalformation zone. Further, the temperature of the liquid L in thesupercooled state can be adjusted by the energy applied to the lowerportion of the container C and the energy applied to the upper portionof the container C.

The liquid L has been described as an example with reference to FIGS. 3and 4. In the case of a received object containing a liquid, when theliquid in the received object is continuously supercooled, the receivedobject can be kept fresh for an extended period of time. The receivedobject can be maintained in the supercooled state at a temperature belowthe phase transition temperature via the above process. Here, thereceived object may include meat, vegetables, fruit and other food aswell as the liquid.

Furthermore, the energy used in the present invention may be thermalenergy, electric or magnetic energy, ultrasonic-wave energy, lightenergy, and so on.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state where a non-freezing apparatus providedin a cooling apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is mounted in a freezing chamber. The cooling apparatus 1000is an apparatus supplying the cool air into a cooling space 1300 and1400 using a cooling cycle. FIG. 5 illustrates a state where thenon-freezing apparatus 2000 is installed in the freezing chamber 1300 ofa side-by-side refrigerator which is an example of the cooling apparatus1000. The cooling space 1300 and 1400 in the cooling apparatus 1000 isdivided into the freezing chamber 1300 and a refrigerating chamber 1400by a bulkhead 1500. Support portions (not shown) are formed on bothsides of the freezing chamber 1300 to protrude therefrom, andhook-shaped ribs 2200 supported by the support portions (not shown) andfixing the non-freezing apparatus 2000 are formed on both side surfacesof the non-freezing apparatus 2000. The non-freezing apparatus 2000 isfixed in the freezing chamber 1300 by the hook-shaped ribs 2200 and thesupport portions (not shown) and may be detachable from the freezingchamber 1300 like other general shelves. The non-freezing apparatus 2000needs power supply. Preferably, power connectors (not shown) areprovided between the cooling apparatus 1000 and the non-freezingapparatus 2000 and connected to each other to supply power. The powerconnectors (not shown) may be contact-type connectors such as batterychargers formed in the corresponding positions of the cooling apparatus1000 and the non-freezing apparatus 2000 and transferring power throughthe contact, or a pair of female and male port-type connectors engagedwith ends of power transfer cables provided in the cooling apparatus1000 and the non-freezing apparatus 2000, respectively. Additionally,the non-freezing apparatus 2000 may be fixed to the freezing chamber1300 using screws or the like not to be detached therefrom. In thissituation, not a separate power connector (not shown) but a generalelectric wire is provided between the non-freezing apparatus 2000 andthe freezing chamber 1300 to supply power from the cooling apparatus1000 to the non-freezing apparatus 2000. Meanwhile, when it is intendedto display a working state, a supercooling proceeding state and so on ofthe non-freezing apparatus 2000 through an external display (not shown)installed on the outside of the cooling apparatus 1000, it is preferableto configure the power connector (not shown) or the electric wire totransmit electricity in two ways so as to transfer information from aPCB (not shown) which is a control unit controlling the operation of thenon-freezing apparatus 2000 to the external display (not shown) or acontrol unit (not shown) of the cooling apparatus 1000.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state where the non-freezing apparatusprovided in the cooling apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention is mounted in the refrigerating chamber. The coolingapparatus 1000 supplies the cool air into the cooling space 1300 and1400 using the cooling cycle. FIG. 6 illustrates a state where thenon-freezing apparatus 2000 is installed in the refrigerating chamber1400 of the side-by-side refrigerator which is the example of thecooling apparatus 1000. The non-freezing apparatus 2000 mounted in therefrigerating chamber 1400 may be further mounted in addition to thenon-freezing apparatus 2000 mounted in the freezing chamber 1300 or maybe mounted alone in the refrigerating chamber 1400. The cooling space1300 and 1400 in the cooling apparatus 1000 is divided into the freezingchamber 1300 and the refrigerating chamber 1400 by the bulkhead 1500.Support portions (not shown) are formed on both sides of therefrigerating chamber 1400 to protrude therefrom, and hook-shaped ribs2200 supported by the support portions (not shown) and fixing thenon-freezing apparatus 2000 are formed on both side surfaces of thenon-freezing apparatus 2000. The non-freezing apparatus 2000 is fixed inthe refrigerating chamber 1400 by the hook-shaped ribs 2200 and thesupport portions (not shown) and may be detachable from therefrigerating chamber 1400 like other general shelves. The non-freezingapparatus 2000 needs power supply. Preferably, power connectors (notshown) are provided between the cooling apparatus 1000 and thenon-freezing apparatus 2000 and connected to each other to supply power.The power connectors (not shown) may be contact-type connectors such asbattery chargers formed in the corresponding positions of the coolingapparatus 1000 and the non-freezing apparatus 2000 and transferringpower through the contact, or a pair of female and male port-typeconnectors engaged with ends of power transfer cables provided in thecooling apparatus 1000 and the non-freezing apparatus 2000,respectively. Additionally, the non-freezing apparatus 2000 may be fixedto the refrigerating chamber 1400 using screws or the like not to bedetached therefrom. In this situation, not a separate power connector(not shown) but a general electric wire is provided between thenon-freezing apparatus 2000 and the refrigerating chamber 1400 to supplypower from the cooling apparatus 1000 to the non-freezing apparatus2000. Meanwhile, when it is intended to display a working state, asupercooling proceeding state and so on of the non-freezing apparatus2000 through an external display (not shown) installed on the outside ofthe cooling apparatus 1000, it is preferable to configure the powerconnector (not shown) or the electric wire to transmit electricity intwo ways so as to transfer information from a PCB (not shown) which is acontrol unit controlling the operation of the non-freezing apparatus2000 to the external display (not shown) or a control unit (not shown)of the cooling apparatus 1000.

Normally, the refrigerating chamber 1400 is maintained between atemperature above 0° C. and −2° C. such that a liquid cannot be frozen.Therefore, when the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is installed not in thefreezing chamber 1300 but in the refrigerating chamber 1400, required isa cooling passage for introducing the cool air from the freezing chamber1300 to the non-freezing apparatus 2000 or a damper.

For this purpose, the cooling apparatus 1000 includes a cooling passageguide duct 2300 which can pass through a bulkhead 1500 and introduce thecool air into the non-freezing apparatus 2000. Alternatively, the guideduct 2300 may be connected directly to the non-freezing apparatus 2000,so that the cooling passage can be connected directly to thenon-freezing apparatus 2000. The guide duct 2300 may not be connecteddirectly to the non-freezing apparatus 2000 but an end portion thereofmay be located adjacent to the non-freezing apparatus 2000, so that thecooling passage can supply the cool air to the periphery of thenon-freezing apparatus 2000 to indirectly cool the non-freezingapparatus 2000. In addition, a damper controlling the cool air flowinginto the non-freezing apparatus 2000 may be provided. The damper may beinstalled in the guide duct 2300 or on the side of the non-freezingapparatus 2000. If the damper is closed, the non-freezing apparatus 2000is cooled according to a first cooling method in which the cool air inthe cooling apparatus 1000 indirectly cools the non-freezing apparatus2000. Meanwhile, if the damper is open, while the cool air in thecooling apparatus 1000 is circulated around the non-freezing apparatus2000 to indirectly cool the non-freezing apparatus 2000, a secondcooling method is performed, in which the cool air is introduced intothe non-freezing apparatus 2000 through the damper and circulateddirectly in the non-freezing apparatus 2000. If the damper is providedon the side of the non-freezing apparatus 2000, the guide duct 2300 maycover the damper such that the damper is provided both in the guide duct2300 and on the non-freezing apparatus 2000. When the non-freezingapparatus 2000 is installed in the refrigerating chamber 1400, it may bedetachable from the refrigerating chamber 1400 or fixed to the wall ofthe refrigerating chamber 1400 using screws or rivets.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a state where the non-freezing apparatusprovided in the cooling apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention is mounted in a freezing chamber door. According tothe embodiment of the present invention, the non-freezing apparatus 2000is installed in the freezing chamber door 1100 of the cooling apparatus1000. The freezing chamber door 1100 serves to open and close thefreezing chamber 1300. The non-freezing apparatus 2000, an ice bank 1600and an ice maker 1700 are installed in the freezing chamber door 1100sequentially from the lower side. The ice maker 1700 is supplied withwater to make ice. When the ice maker 1700 finishes the ice making, theice made in the ice maker 1700 is automatically or manually supplied tothe ice bank 1600. In a case where the ice is automatically suppliedfrom the ice maker 1700 to the ice bank 1600, an ice tray (not shown) inwhich the ice is made is rotatably installed in the ice maker 1700 androtated to drop the ice to the lower side upon the completion of the icemaking. The ice bank 1600 includes an outer casing 1610 mounted in thefreezing chamber door 1100 and a drawer 1620 which can be pulled outfrom the outer casing 1610. The outer casing 1610 has an opening portionon the upper side so that the ice dropped from the ice maker 1700 can beintroduced therethrough. The ice made in the ice maker 1700 is droppedto the lower portion by the rotation of the ice tray (not shown), passedthrough the opening portion formed in the outer casing 1610 of the icebank 1600, and stored in the drawer 1620 of the ice bank 1600. Whendropped to the ice bank 1600, the ice gives a shock to the ice bank1600. This shock may be transferred to the freezing chamber door 1100,the non-freezing apparatus 2000, etc. Accordingly, the non-freezingapparatus 2000 has a groove 2100 having a larger section than that ofthe drawer 1620. As such, when the ice is dropped to the drawer 1620,the drawer 1620 can be downwardly moved to reduce the shock.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a state where the non-freezing apparatusprovided in the cooling apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention is mounted in a refrigerating chamber door. Accordingto the embodiment of the present invention, the non-freezing apparatus2000 is installed in the refrigerating chamber door 1200 of the coolingapparatus 1000. The non-freezing apparatus 2000 installed in therefrigerating chamber door 1200 may be further installed in addition tothe non-freezing apparatus 2000 installed in the freezing chamber 1300or the freezing chamber door 1100, or may be mounted alone in therefrigerating chamber door 1200. When the non-freezing apparatus 2000 isinstalled in the refrigerating chamber door 1200, the cooling apparatus1000 should include a cooling passage guide duct 2300 to introduce thecool air into the non-freezing apparatus 2000. Since the guide duct 2300should not disturb the movement of a freezing chamber door 1100 and therefrigerating chamber door 1200, it is preferably installed below thenon-freezing apparatus 2000. Moreover, an opening portion 1110 forintroducing the cool air into the guide duct 2300 is formed in thefreezing chamber door 1100, thereby forming a passage introducing thecool air into the guide duct 2300 through the opening portion 1110 andthen introducing the cool air into the non-freezing apparatus 2000 tocool the non-freezing apparatus 2000. A damper controlling the inflow ofthe cool air from the passage may be installed on the opening portion1110 or in the guide duct 2300. Preferably, the damper is located in theguide duct 2300 below the non-freezing apparatus 2000. That is, thedamper installed below the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is covered withthe guide duct 2300. A separate home bar (not shown) may be installed inthe refrigerating chamber door 1200. Here, the relative positions of thehome bar and the non-freezing apparatus 2000 may be determinedregardless of order. If the damper is closed, the non-freezing apparatus2000 is cooled according to a first cooling method in which the cool airin the cooling apparatus 1000 indirectly cools the non-freezingapparatus 2000. In the meantime, if the damper is open, while the coolair in the cooling apparatus 1000 is circulated around the non-freezingapparatus 2000 to indirectly cool the non-freezing apparatus 2000, asecond cooling method is performed, in which the cool air is introducedinto the non-freezing apparatus 2000 through the damper and circulateddirectly in the non-freezing apparatus 2000.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are exploded perspective views of the non-freezingapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The non-freezing apparatus 2000 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention includes a casing 100 defining the inner space forstoring a container and a door 200 opening and closing the casing 100,and is installed in a cooling apparatus 1000 storing food at atemperature below 0° C. such as a freezing chamber of the coolingapparatus 1000. The casing 100, which separates the outer space, i.e.,the space of the cooling apparatus 1000 in which the non-freezingapparatus 2000 is installed from the inner space of the non-freezingapparatus 2000, includes outer casings 110 and 120 forming the externalappearance of the non-freezing apparatus 2000. The outer casings 110 and120 include a front outer casing 110 and a rear outer casing 120. Thefront outer casing 110 forms the external appearance of the front andlower portions of the non-freezing apparatus 2000, and the rear outercasing 120 forms the external appearance of the rear and upper portionsof the non-freezing apparatus 2000. The casing 100 enables upper andlower portions of container containing a liquid to be located and storedin different temperature regions. More specifically, the lower portionof the container is located in a temperature region (about −1° C. to −5°C.) of the maximum ice crystal formation zone, and the upper portion ofthe container is located in a higher temperature region (about −1° C. to2° C.) in which the ice crystals are not easily formed. For thispurpose, the casing 100 includes a lower space 100L having thetemperature region (about −1° C. to −5° C.) of the maximum ice crystalformation zone, and an upper space 1000 having the temperature region(about −1° C. to 2° C.) in which the ice crystals are not easily formed.The upper space 1000 and the lower space 100L are separated by abulkhead 140. The casing 100 includes a lower casing 130 defining thelower space 100L with the bulkhead 140 and an upper casing 150 definingthe upper space 1000 with the bulkhead 140. Further, a hole 140 h isformed in the bulkhead 140 so that the upper portion of the containercan pass through the bulkhead 140 and be located in the upper space1000.

A flow fan 170 is installed at the rear of the lower space 100L so thatthe liquid stored in the lower portion of the container located in thelower space 100L can rapidly reach the temperature region (about −1° C.to −5° C.) of the maximum ice crystal formation zone and have asupercooled state. In addition, a lower heater (not shown) is providedto adjust the temperature of the lower space 100L. An upper heater (notshown) is installed adjacent to the upper casing 150 so that the upperportion of the container located in the upper space 1000 can bemaintained in the temperature region (about −1° C. to 2° C.) in whichthe ice crystals are not easily formed. Moreover, a separation film 142made of an elastic material and covering the hole 140 h of the bulkhead140 is installed on the bulkhead 140 to prevent the heat exchange fromoccurring between the upper space 1000 and the lower space 100L havingdifferent temperatures due to a forcible flow produced by the flow fan170. Further, preferably, fixing plates 144, which can be fixed to thebulkhead 140 by screws or the like, are provided to press the separationfilm 142 in the up-down direction to fix the separation film 142 to thebulkhead 140.

Meanwhile, a thermal insulator 112 for insulating the lower space 100Lfrom the outer space is provided at the lower portions of the outercasings 110 and 120, and a thermal insulator 122 for insulating theupper space 1000 from the outer space is provided at the upper portionsof the outer casings 110 and 120. In addition, a power switch 182, adisplay unit 184 and the like are installed between the front outercasing 110 and the thermal insulator 122, and the PCB (not shown)controlling electronic components, such as the power switch 182, thedisplay unit 184, the upper and lower heaters (not shown), the flow fan170 and a damper 190, and a PCB installation portion 186 are installedbetween the rear outer casing 120 and the thermal insulator 122. Therear outer casing 120 further includes an opening portion 124 throughwhich the PCB installation portion 186 can be detached in an assembledstate of the outer casings 110 and 120 for the PCB installation, and aPCB cover 124 c covering the opening portion 124 after the mounting ofthe PCB installation portion 186.

In the meantime, a bulkhead is formed to prevent the cool air fromflowing from the lower portion of the rear space 100R to the upperportion thereof and reducing the temperature of the upper space 1000. Arib 120 r formed on the rear outer casing 120 and a rib 140 r formed onthe bulkhead 140 of the upper portion of the lower casing 130 toprotrude from the lower casing 130 backwards overlap with each other,thereby forming the bulkhead. Preferably, a rib 150 r having a shapecorresponding to that of the bulkhead 140 of the upper portion of thelower casing 130 is provided at the lower portion of the upper casing150 to protrude therefrom backwards. The rib 120 r formed on the rearouter casing 120, the rib 140 r formed on the bulkhead 140 and the rib150 r formed on the upper casing 150 overlap with each other, thusforming the bulkhead of the rear space 100R.

The door 200 is installed on the front surface of the front outer casing110 to open and close the lower space 100L. The door 200 includes a doorpanel 220 made of a transparent or semitransparent material in a doorcasing 210, a door frame 230 fixed to the door casing 210 and fixing thedoor panel 220 therewith, and a gasket 240 mounted at the rear of thedoor frame 230 and sealing up between the door 200 and the front outercasing 110. The non-freezing apparatus 2000 according to the embodimentof the present invention includes a plurality of door panels 220. Therespective door panels 220 are installed between the door casing 210 andthe door frame 230 with a gap such that air layers are formed betweenthe door panels 220. The air layers not only compensate for a lowthermal insulation property of the door 200 but also prevent thefrosting of the door 200, i.e., the door panels 220. The gasket 240 ismade of an elastic material to seal up the gap between the door 100 andthe front outer casing 110, thereby preventing the heat exchange fromoccurring between the cooling space 1300 and 1400 in which thenon-freezing apparatus 2000 is mounted and the inside of thenon-freezing apparatus 2000. That is, the gasket 240 can prevent leakageof the cool or hot air.

Meanwhile, a rear space R is defined by the rear outer casing 120, thelower casing 130 and the upper casing 150. The flow fan 170, the damper190 and the lower heater (not shown) are installed in the rear space R.Particularly, the PCB installation portion 186 is installed at the upperportion of the rear space R to be detachable therefrom. The lower heater(not shown), the upper heater (not shown), the lower sensor (not shown),the upper sensor (not shown), the flow fan 170, the damper 190, thepower switch 182 and the display unit 184 are connected to the PCBthrough an electric wire. The PCB is fixed in the PCB installationportion 186, and then the PCB installation portion 186 is fitted into agroove formed in the thermal insulator 122 of the upper space throughthe opening portion 124 formed in the rear outer casing 120. Theelectric wire connecting the PCB to the respective electronic componentsis connected to the PCB with a sufficient length to pull out the PCBinstallation portion 186 through the opening portion 124 of the rearouter casing 120. Accordingly, when the PCB is to be repaired orreplaced, it is not necessary to separate the front outer casing 110from the rear outer casing 120, which improves the convenience ofmaintenance and repair. In addition, grooves 136 and 156 are provided inthe upper portion of the lower casing 130 and the lower portion of theupper casing 150, respectively, so that the electric wire connecting thePCB to the respective electronic components can be fitted thereinto. Theupper portion of the lower casing 130 and the lower portion of the uppercasing 150 are fixed to each other in an overlapping manner. Theseparation film 142 or the fixing plate 144 described above are locatedbetween the upper portion of the lower casing 130 and the lower portionof the upper casing 150. Moreover, when the PCB installation portion 186is inserted into the thermal insulator 122 of the upper space in therear outer casing 120, the opening portion 124 is closed by the PCBcover 124 c. If the cool air of the cooling space infiltrates throughthe opening portion 124 during the operation, there is the possibilityof lowering the temperature of the upper space 1000 which should bemaintained at a higher temperature than that of the lower space 100L, inaddition to the cooling space. Therefore, there is a disadvantage inthat a heating value of the upper heater (not shown) should beincreased. When the opening portion 124 is closed by the PCB cover 124c, the energy efficiency can be improved and the liquid can be stablychanged to the supercooled state.

FIGS. 11 to 13 are views of the damper provided in the non-freezingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Asdescribed above, the damper 170 is installed in the rear space 100R (seeFIG. 9) and controls the inflow of the cool air from the cooling spacein which the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is installed to the rear space100R (see FIG. 9). The damper 170 pivots on a frame 172 installed on therear outer casing 120 to thereby open or close an opening portion of theframe 172. The damper 170 is connected to the PCB via an electric wire,and the PCB controls the opening and closing of the damper 170 accordingto temperature information of the lower space 100L measured by a sensor(not shown). If the damper 170 is closed, the non-freezing apparatus2000 is cooled according to a first cooling method in which the cool airin the cooling apparatus 1000 indirectly cools the non-freezingapparatus 2000. Meanwhile, if the damper 170 is open, while the cool airin the cooling apparatus 1000 is circulated around the non-freezingapparatus 2000 to indirectly cool the non-freezing apparatus 2000, asecond cooling method is performed, in which the cool air is introducedinto the non-freezing apparatus 2000 through the damper 170 andcirculated directly in the non-freezing apparatus 2000. That is, whenthe non-freezing apparatus 2000 is cooled in the cooling apparatus 1000according to the first cooling method, the second cooling method isselectively performed with the first cooling method according to theopening and closing of the damper 170. In other words, if the damper 170is closed, the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is cooled according to thefirst cooling method, and if the damper 170 is open, the non-freezingapparatus 2000 is cooled according to the first cooling method and thesecond cooling method.

FIG. 14 is a view of the rear space of the non-freezing apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 15 is aperspective view of the non-freezing apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention. As described above, the damper 190is installed at the lower portion of the rear space 100R to control theinflow of the cool air. In addition, the flow fan 170 installed on therear surface of the lower casing 130 produces a forcible flow such thatthe air introduced into the rear space 100R can be introduced into thelower space 100L and the air of the lower space 100L can be dischargedagain to the rear space 100R. A discharge grill 172 is provided in theinstallation position of the flow fan 170 in the lower casing 130 sothat the flow produced by the flow fan 170 can flow therethrough,thereby forming a passage from the rear space 100R to the lower space100L. Moreover, first discharge holes 310 a, 310 b, 310 c and 310 d areformed in the rear surface of the lower casing 130 to discharge the flowfrom the lower space 100L to the rear space 100R. The first dischargeholes 310 are formed at both side ends. Four first discharge holes 310a, 310 b, 310 c and 310 d are formed in twos in the up-down direction.The flow produced by the flow fan 170 is introduced into the lower space100L through the discharge grill 172, and then discharged again throughthe first discharge holes 310 a, 310 b, 310 c and 310 d located at bothside ends. Thus, a natural cooling passage is formed in the lower space100L. In the meantime, second discharge holes 320 are formed in thelower portion of the lower space 100L to discharge the flow dischargedthrough the first discharge holes 310 a, 310 b, 310 c and 310 d to thecooling space. Here, bulkheads 330 a and 330 b are installed between theflow fan 170 and the first discharge holes 310 a, 310 b, 310 c and 310 dto prevent the flow discharged through the first discharge holes 310 a,310 b, 310 c and 310 d from flowing to the central portion in which theflow fan 170 is located and flowing into the lower space 100L again.

Further, some of the flow flowing into the lower space 100L through thefirst discharge holes 310 a, 310 b, 310 c and 310 d and cooling theliquid stored in the container is discharged directly to the coolingspace through third discharge holes 340 located in the lower portion ofthe lower space 100L. Preferably, the third discharge holes 340 areformed in the left and right in the same number to form symmetricpassages.

Accordingly, if the damper 190 is open and the flow fan 170 is inoperation, the cool air is introduced from the cooling space to the rearspace 100R through the damper 190, and then introduced from the rearspace 100R to the lower space 100L through the discharge grill 172, thuscooling the lower portion of the container containing the liquid in thenon-freezing apparatus 2000. Some of the flow exchanging heat with theliquid contained in the container and cooling the liquid is dischargeddirectly to the cooling space through the third discharge holes 340located at both sides of the lower portion of the lower space 100L. Therest of the flow is discharged to the rear space 100R through the firstdischarge holes 310 a, 310 b, 310 c and 310 d of both side ends, andthen discharged to the outside (cooling space) through the seconddischarge holes 320 a and 320 b.

Meanwhile, fourth discharge holes 350 a and 350 b are further formed inthe lower casing 130 to be located inside the bulkheads 330 a and 330 b.That is, the bulkheads 330 a and 330 b exist between the fourthdischarge holes 350 a and 350 b, and the first discharge holes 310 a,310 b, 310 c and 310 d and the second discharge holes 320 a and 320 b.In a state where the damper 190 is closed, when the flow fan 170 isoperated, the flow discharged from the rear space 100R to the lowerspace 100L through the discharge grill 172 is circulated in the lowerspace 100L and discharged again to the rear space 100R through thefourth discharge holes 350 a and 350 b. That is, when it is determinedthat the temperature of the lower space 100L reaches an appropriatetemperature for storing the liquid in the supercooled state, in a statewhere the damper 190 is closed, the flow is circulated between the lowerspace 100L and the rear space 100R through the discharge grill 172 andthe fourth discharge holes 350 a and 350 b, and the cool air is notintroduced any more from the external cooling space.

Referring to FIG. 15, a trough 116 is formed at a contact portion of thedoor 200 and the front outer casing 110. The trough 116 prevents dews ormoisture deposited on the container from being frozen on the door 200 orthe front outer casing 110. Without the trough 116, the door 200 and thefront outer casing 110 are not closely attached to each other but have agap therebetween, and the cool air infiltrates into the gap and lowersthe temperature of the lower space 100L. That is, since the dewsdeposited on the door 200 or the front outer casing 110 are dropped andcollected in the trough 116, the frosting or freezing of the moisturedoes not occur on the bottom surface of the front outer casing 110brought into contact with the door 200.

FIG. 16 is a view of the rear of the non-freezing apparatus according tothe embodiment of the present invention. Fifth discharge holes 360 a,360 b and 360 c are formed in a center of the rear surface of the rearouter casing 120 to discharge the flow from the rear space 100R to thecooling space. Some of the cool air introduced from the cooling space tothe rear space 100R through the damper 190 is not introduced into thelower space 100L through the discharge grill 172 but discharged again tothe cooling space through the fifth discharge holes 360 a, 360 b and 360c.

In the meantime, a plurality of ribs 125 are formed on the rear surfaceof the rear outer casing 120. The ribs 125 serve to leave a spacingbetween the rear surface of the rear outer casing 120 and theinstallation surface. When the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is installedin the cooling apparatus 1000 like the embodiment of the presentinvention, the ribs 125 maintain a spacing between the inner surface ofthe cooling apparatus 1000 and the rear surface of the rear outer casing120. The inner surface of the cooling apparatus 1000 includes the innersurfaces of the freezing chamber door 1100 and the refrigerating chamberdoor 1200. In addition, a separate rib 126 is provided to enclose thefifth discharge holes 360 a, 360 b and 360 c formed in the center of therear surface of the rear outer casing 120 so that the flow dischargedthrough the fifth discharge holes 360 a, 360 b and 360 c of the rearouter casing 120 can be guided to the lower portion of the rear outercasing 120. The separate rib 126 encloses the fifth discharge holes 360a, 360 b and 360 c in three sides except the lower side such that theflow discharged through the fifth discharge holes 360 a, 360 b and 360 cis naturally guided to the lower side of the non-freezing apparatus2000.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are schematic views showing the heat transfercomparison, when the non-freezing apparatus is closely attached to thecooling apparatus and when the non-freezing apparatus is spaced apartfrom the cooling apparatus by a given gap. As illustrated in FIG. 18,when the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is closely attached to the coolingapparatus 1000, the heat exchange occurs between the inner surface ofthe cooling apparatus 1000 and the contact surface of the non-freezingapparatus 2000, so that the inner surface of the cooling apparatus 1000and the contact surface of the non-freezing apparatus 2000 have the sametemperature. However, when the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is spacedapart from the cooling apparatus 1000 by the ribs 125, the non-freezingapparatus 2000 can be maintained at a different temperature from theinner surface of the cooling apparatus 1000. Therefore, the influence ofthe outdoor air of the cooling apparatus 1000 exerted on thenon-freezing apparatus 2000 can be reduced. Moreover, after thetemperature in the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is lowered to atemperature at which the liquid can be stored in a supercooled state, itis possible to reduce heating values of upper and lower heaters (notshown) installed in the non-freezing apparatus 2000, thereby improvingthe energy efficiency of the non-freezing apparatus 2000. When thenon-freezing apparatus 2000 is closely attached to the cooling apparatus1000, the heat transfer occurs to the cooling apparatus 1000. If theheater is operated so that the temperature in the non-freezing apparatus2000 can be maintained in a given temperature region, the heat generatedby the heater is used to raise the temperature of the inner surface ofthe cooling apparatus 1000 closely attached to the non-freezingapparatus 2000. Accordingly, when the non-freezing apparatus 2000 isspaced apart from the cooling apparatus 1000 by the given gap, theliquid can be rapidly changed to the supercooled state and the energyefficiency of the non-freezing apparatus 2000 can be improved.

FIG. 19 is a graph showing changes in the internal temperature versusthe time, when the non-freezing apparatus is closely attached to thecooling apparatus and when the non-freezing apparatus is spaced apartfrom the cooling apparatus by a given gap. As shown in the graph, whenthe non-freezing apparatus 2000 is spaced apart from the coolingapparatus 1000 by the given gap (less close attachment), it is cooledfaster.

The present invention has been described in detail in connection withthe exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. However, thescope of the present invention is not limited thereto but is defined bythe appended claims.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A cooling apparatus, comprising: a cooling chamber;a cooling chamber door opening and closing the cooling chamber; a homebar formed in the cooling chamber door; and a non-freezing apparatusinstalled in the home bar.
 22. The cooling apparatus of claim 21,wherein the non-freezing apparatus comprises an upper space and a lowerspace, and the temperature of the upper space is maintained to be higherthan that of the lower space.
 23. The cooling apparatus of claim 22,wherein the non-freezing apparatus comprises a hole through which anupper portion of a container can be disposed in the upper space and aseparation film covering the hole.
 24. The cooling apparatus of claim21, wherein the home bar comprises a storing space separated from theother space of the cooling chamber door and a home bar door opening andclosing the storing space on the outside of the cooling chamber door.25. The cooling apparatus of claim 24, wherein the non-freezingapparatus comprises a door formed separately from the home bar door andopening and closing the non-freezing apparatus.
 26. The coolingapparatus of claim 24, wherein the non-freezing apparatus comprises adoor integrally formed with the home bar door and opening and closingthe non-freezing apparatus.
 27. The cooling apparatus of claim 21,wherein the non-freezing apparatus comprises a damper controlling theinflow of the cool air.
 28. A cooling apparatus, comprising: a freezingchamber; a refrigerating chamber; a freezing chamber door opening andclosing the freezing chamber; a refrigerating chamber door opening andclosing the refrigerating chamber; a home bar formed in the freezingchamber door or the refrigerating chamber door; and a non-freezingapparatus installed in the home bar.
 29. The cooling apparatus of claim28, wherein the non-freezing apparatus is installed in the home barformed in the freezing chamber door, and the non-freezing apparatuscomprises a damper controlling the inflow of the cool air from thefreezing chamber to the non-freezing apparatus.
 30. The coolingapparatus of claim 28, wherein the non-freezing apparatus is installedin the home bar formed in the refrigerating chamber door, and thecooling apparatus further comprises a passage introducing the cool airfrom the freezing chamber into the home bar.
 31. The cooling apparatusof claim 28, wherein the non-freezing apparatus is installed in the homebar formed in the refrigerating chamber door, and the cooling apparatusfurther comprises a passage introducing the cool air from the freezingchamber into the non-freezing apparatus.
 32. The cooling apparatus ofclaim 31, further comprising a damper located on the passage andcontrolling the inflow of the cool air to the non-freezing apparatus.33. A cooling apparatus, comprising: a freezing chamber; a refrigeratingchamber; a freezing chamber door opening and closing the freezingchamber; a refrigerating chamber door opening and closing therefrigerating chamber; and a non-freezing apparatus installed in thefreezing chamber door or the refrigerating chamber door and including adoor open by moving relative to the freezing chamber door or therefrigerating chamber door.
 34. The cooling apparatus of claim 33,wherein a thermal insulator is foamed in the door of the non-freezingapparatus.
 35. The cooling apparatus of claim 33, wherein an upper spaceof the non-freezing apparatus is controlled at a higher temperature thana lower space thereof.